Saturday, 2 May 2009

Two views taken this evening, showing what is likely to have been the largest container ship ever to have visited the Clyde. Unfortunately, it is not for cargo that MAERSK BEAUMONT is on the Clyde, but instead she is here to spend some time in lay-up following the general downturn in worldwide trade for ships of her size.

MAERSK BEAUMONT is the seventh, and last, ship of the VWS 4000 class built at the German Volkswerft Stralsund shipyard and delivered to Maersk UK in December 2007. She is 294.1 metres in length - similar to some of the larger bulk carriers that have visited the river and making her one of the largest vessels that can be accommodated within the locks of the Panama Canal - and has a deadweight of 52,400 tonnes. She can carry up to 4,170 TEU containers, and appears to have last been employed on a service to South America. MAERSK BEAUMONT and her sisters all fly the Red Ensign.

Saw this ship when coming up from Largs on Sunday. Husband wondered about her. I visited your blog earlier in the last year and knew you would have the answer. Thank you for your interest in the Clyde.

My brother is the Captain on this ship. We went to Largs to see it on Monday, unfortunately it was pouring with rain so visibility was poor. We hope to go again if we get a sunny day before he leaves!!!

My hubby Andy Thompson is on the ship at the moment. I know he works very hard and is proud of the ship.He let all of his family and friends know about this picture and the blog. we miss him and love him very much, happy birthday for 5/10/09 netx

my dad is on the ship and he is a very honourable man who take family and work to his heart he is one of the many great british seaman keepin this tradation alive i am very proud of him and he is a very wise man . from his jnr andrew thompson JNR .

The captain is my brother in law - he came to stay with us in Ayr recently and we had a day out in Largs - little did we know he'd be back again so soon! No chance to visit Nardini's this time though....

I have passed this vessel several times in the last few weeks. I am a sailing instructor and my students are always fascinated to see such vessels at anchor. I have heard that there is a fee for using these designated anchorages in the Clydeport area. If so, does anyone know how much it costs and how the fee is calculated?

All commercial shipping using Clydeport waters needs to pay a conservancy charge, usually based on their gross tonnage. Details can be found on the Clydeport website - click on 'operational', and then on 'information'. Their schedule of charges is top of the list.

... is a shipping enthusiast, who spent several years at sea sailing around the world before taking up employment with a local company.
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